Now recruiting for 2026/27
|DATES AND LOCATION TBC
Securing Foundations at Year 7
Bookings are now open The purpose of this project is to give secondary maths teachers the necessary expertise to support students with gaps in understanding content from previous Key Stages
Date & Location
Now recruiting for 2026/27
DATES AND LOCATION TBC
About the Event
DATES AND LOCATION FOR 26/27 TBC
It is vital that all students have secure foundations on which to build future mathematical understanding, but some students arrive at KS3 without these foundations and secondary teachers may not always have the specialist knowledge to teach these foundational concepts effectively.
This Work Group offers opportunities for collaboration within and between departments using high-quality classroom tasks and associated professional development that enables professional growth.
5 MINUTE READ: Securing Foundations at Year 7: exploring a year of impact - Carol Knights, Director of Secondary at NCETM
What are the intended outcomes?
Student outcomes
Students will:
develop a deep and connected understanding of the maths they are learning
think reason and discuss their maths in order to deepen their understanding
make progress so that they are better able to access a suitable KS3 curriculum • develop confidence with, and a positive attitude to, maths.
Whole-school/departmental policies and approaches
Participants will work with their school/subject leaders to:
share a common vision, culture and set of principles which align with those in the NCETM’s Essence of Mathematics Teaching for Mastery
ensure that relevant teachers and support staff engage with the materials
ensure flexibility in the KS3 scheme of work so that suitable adaptations can be made to ensure accessibility and progress for all students.
Practice development
Participants will:
develop classroom practices aligned to those in the NCETM’s Essence of Mathematics Teaching for Mastery
practice strategies and refine their practice to best support students who did not meet age-related expectations (ARE) at the end of KS2
consider approaches which support all students to reason mathematically and develop a deep and connected understanding of the maths they are learning.
Professional learning
Participants will:
work as part of a professional learning community to reflect on their approaches, deepen their understanding about effective approaches, and refine their practice
develop an understanding of pedagogic approaches consistent with teaching for mastery
develop an understanding of the KS1 and KS2 curriculum content, with a particular emphasis on key concepts
share their knowledge and understanding with appropriate members of their department.
PARTICIPANT INFORMATION
This Work Group offers effective support for teachers (experienced and novice) of those Year 7 students who have not met age-related expectations in maths, particularly students whose attainment is in the bottom 20-30% of the national cohort at the end of KS2. It would be appropriate for a teaching assistant to attend alongside a teacher.
Participants are expected to attend three local full-day workshops, which will be led by a member of the NCETM Secondary Team and supported by an expert teacher. To support effective and sustainable implementation there is an expectation that participants’ subject leaders attend the local subject leader community.
This is a free to attend Maths Hub programme, funded by the DFE.